ALTON ORGAN SOCIETY (Founded 1967) ♬♪𝄞 Updated Thursday 5 November 2026
Alton Organ Society's 2026/2027 Season of Organ Concerts
Organ Recitals Nationwide
The 60th Season of organ concerts continued with another outstanding performance this time by David Halls (Salisbury Cathedral) on Tuesday 3 November 2026. David opened his programme (click here to view) with Mendelssohn's Sonata No 1 Op 65, setting the scene for what we were about to hear and enjoy. David remarked that organists were regarded (or thought themselves!) as legends having to read three lines of music. In this piece he had, in parts, to read from 5 lines of music! Mendelssohn was an organist as well as a composer, conductor and it was he who revived the music of JS Bach. It is astonishing how much wonderful Mendelssohn gave us so much music to the world in such short life - he died aged 38. David then played Elgar's "Larghetto" from Serenade for strings transcribed by CH Trevor. David remarked, listening to Bach's organ should be experienced by everyone daily and his majestic performance of Bach's "Prelude and Fugue" in B minor underlined that belief. It is worth mentioning that the audience not only heard this music but observed on the screen both the organist's manual playing on the keys and his skilled pedal work. Theodore Dubois' "Fiat Lux" ["Let there be light"] from 12 Pièces nouvelles pour orgue is not an easy piece to play but David delivered it gloriously. Percy Whitlock was English organist and composer. He was assistant organist at Rochester Cathedral, 1921–30. From 1930 to 1935 he was director of music at St Stephen’s, Bournemouth, and from 1932 until his death borough organist at the Municipal Pavilion. He won a considerable reputation as a recitalist and broadcaster and wrote a number of attractive compositions mostly for organ or choir. Of the organ works, the "Plymouth Suite" and "Five Short Pieces in Various Styles" are still performed. David played two pieces from Whitlock's, arguably, lesser known "Sonata" in C minor - "Canzona and Scherzetto". They were delightful and full of harmonic idioms. Léon Boellmann's "Suite Gothique" is not performed much these days so it was refreshing that David chose this varied piece to end his popular programme. The work was composed for the consecration of Ghys organ at Notre-Dame in Dijon. The Suite is in four movements ending in the best known aspect of this piece - Toccata in C minor - which builds up in intensity ending with a Tierce de Picardie finish in C major. David's programme was well chosen offering music for all tastes and offering a wide variety of compositions beatifically performed. Only a couple week beforehand he conducted Salisbury Cathedral choir singing a choral evensong that was broadcast on BBC Radio Three. Judging by the comments of the audience, they loved his well thought through programme and skilled delivery.
We look forward to a return visit of a true legend in the history of cathedral music when Barry Rose OBE (formerly Guildford, St Pauls and St Albans Cathedrals), gives the third organ concert (in our 60th year) on Tuesday 1 December 2026 starting at 8.00 pm. Prior to this, there will be a reception of drinks and canapés from 7.15 pm. The concert and reception is supported by North Hampshire Organists Association (NHOA). Barry's programme can be viewed here.
His programme can be viewed here.
Notice is herby given that Alton Organ Society Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at St Lawrence Church Alton GU34 2BW starting at 1400.
Click here to view the Season's line up of organists and/or download a copy of the flyer here. If you wish to renew or take out Season Membership (£84 for all eight organ concerts between October and May 2027 - equivalent to £10.50 per concert) click here to download an application form. Admission - including programme - to each concert is £14.00.
Alton Organ Society Committee - New Members Welcome
The organ society committee is keen to attract new members to maintain the future success of Alton Organ Society now it has started 60th year. There are tasks that do not require organ playing skills but the ability to administer the running of the society. For instance, if you are interested and able to be a graphic designer - creating posters, designing programme formats etc - and, maybe, good at running a website including updating on a regular basis to keep it fresh and interesting, we would like to hear from you. If you plan to attend any of the future organ concerts and would like to discuss these roles with committee members, please do approach one of us or contact us by email - click here.
David Hill MBE International Concert Organist, International Choral Director, Patron of the Alton Organ Society and past President of the Royal College of Organists very kindly recorded a CD on the St Lawrence Church, Alton, organ to celebrate 55 years of the Organ Society existence and to raise funds for the restoration of the Speechly organ. The music was recorded by Herald AV Publications, a specialist recording company, in October 2022. The CD was launched at St Lawrence Church, Alton on Tuesday 4 October 2022. The CD costs £15 of which £3.00 of the purchase price will go towards the organ restoration fund. The CD can be purchased from members of the Society Committee, from Resurrection Furniture in Alton and at the Society's Organ Concerts. For further details and purchase of a CD do use the contact page here.
There is an excellent website that lists national organ concerts (including those held in Alton) and can be viewed here. Please list altonorgansociety.co.uk & Organ Recitals Nationwide among your favourites.